Relax Osaze, relax

Osaze Odemwingie has fouled the air with his uncouth utterances. He poured odium on the football fraternity over his exclusion from the country’s provisional list to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

That is okay because it is his right to do so. But he should also know that time was when he was picked head of others in the Super Eagles and heavens didn’t fall. When it favoured him, the coaches were immaculate. Anytime he is dropped, the coaches lacked personality, the players are undisciplined and NFF chiefs are inept.

His jibes at Stephen Keshi, NFF, former captains of the Eagles and some stakeholders are unnecessary, especially after he hinted that he would love to be with his wife when his first child (a boy) is delivered.

One had thought that his exclusion would have lightened his burden of choosing between his wife and the country. Nowhere is it written that fathers should witness the arrival of their kids. People do so at their discretion, more so when Osaze isn’t the doctor to deliver the child.

One is also alarmed that Osaze feels that the coach must inform him about his exclusion. Indeed, it is pertinent to ask what Osaze did when Keshi didn’t contact him. Simply put, Osaze disregards his elders and needs to be told that African tradition recognises respect for older ones.

Osaze has misconstrued being outspoken for rudeness. He ought to have called up Keshi to find out why he was dropped instead of lashing the tactician on Twitter. If he expressed those unkind words to Keshi on the telephone, the Big Boss would have understood, having faced such circumstances in the past. A shouting match could have ensued, yet he could have persuaded people to beg the coach after realising his folly. I wonder what he would do, if asked to apologise to Keshi and the football fraternity whenever he need something good from the system. He could wave his hands but he can never tell.

Curiously, it was being rumoured on Thursday night that Osaze sought to leave the camp for England to witness his child’s birth. He also wanted to be shuttling between England and South Africa, baby-sitting and playing Nigeria’s matches at the Africa Cup of Nations. What a superman. We are told that Keshi rejected both requests before releasing the list. Could that be true, given the whiplash on Twitter from Osaze? Was Osaze trying to remind Keshi of what he did at the Maroc ’88 Africa Cup of Nations where he was flying in and out, playing for the country and his European club? This is Keshi’s full cycle.

If Osaze has a grouse with Keshi, what would he say informed his decision to call NFF Board member Chris Green an idiot? Green called Osaze, following the prompting of those who knew about their firends. Osaze didn’t allow him to talk. He abused Green, a fact he confirmed on his twitter account on Monday. Green took it in his strides, but the pain was in his voice.

Osaze should know that there is life outside football. He should understand too that no employer would touch him, given his antecedents with superiors. One is not sure if he would be welcomed into the Super Eagles again. He should always put himself in others’ position when he is angry.

I don’t expect Keshi to join issues with Osaze. It would be foolhardy. I’m glad that Keshi has instilled discipline in the Eagles, but he must ensure that the stick is used without discrimination. A child that has just been flogged will definitely cry. That is what Osaze’s anger amounts to. Keshi should forgive him whenever he retraces his steps. That is the hallmark of a good leader.

Glo: giant among stars

The Glo/CAF Africa Footballer of the Year award in Ghana was always going to be a spectacle. A night of surprises. One in which the audience would detest some of the awardees. Hence, this writer wasn’t surprised when many in the crowd went for the choice of Manchester City FC of England’s midfield pearl Yaya Toure as the 2012 Africa Footballer of the Year.

Of significant importance is the fact that such choices done by a voting audience of technically minded football coaches, captains and icons of the game were bound to throw up surprise winners. Indeed, such awards of excellence won’t be a popularity contest since the selection criteria are such that partisan fans wouldn’t be able to comprehend.

For the ardent football fan, Didier Drogba was the obvious choice. No problem. He scored goals for Chelsea. Drogba’s equaliser changed the outcome of the Champions League finals against Bayern Munich. His penalty kick decided the game. Indeed, Chelsea has not found its rhythm since Drogba left. These accolades ought to have fetched Drogba the diadem. But this is one side of the coin. The choice of the winner isn’t for the fans, but the game’s technocrats who did through votes.

Technically, Yaya Toure is better than Drogba. He plays as a defensive midfielder, yet he runs the length of the field to score vital goals for Manchester City and for Cote d’Ivoire.

Looking at Yaya’s big stature, many have wondered how he carries himself effortlessly. He is the busiest player on the pitch and his absence during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations held in Equatorial Guinea grossly affected his English team’s quest for their maiden EPL title. Little wonder Manchester City nicked the EPL title in the most dramatic circumstances last year, only after Yaya returned to the team. This is not forgetting others’ contributions.

Yaya Toure’s choice marked another milestone for Globacom as one that stands for excellence. Others would have sought to influence the eventual winner. Yaya emerged from a transparent voting system. He wasn’t hand-picked nor was CAF told what to do by Globacom.

Yaya represents the future of Africa football. It is also important that Africa’s best plies his trade in one of the best leagues in the world, not in far flung countries renowned as footballers’ retirement benefit zones. This is not taking anything away from the remarkable landmarks made by King Didier Drogba for club and country.

Surprise is the hallmark of such awards and one must thumbs up for Globacom for changing the face of the Africa Footballer of the Year, which the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) is believed in many circles to have bastardised.

Keshi’s list

Since the provisional list of Super Eagles squad of 32 was released last week Friday, tongues have been wagging and potshots have been fired at the chief coach, Stephen Keshi.

The noise shows that the list met most people’s expectation. Of course, no list is perfect. Yet, I was disturbed reading in CompleteSports stating that Danny Shittu was forced on Keshi. Reading through, I saw that Keshi accepted this claim and my heart sank.

Keshi’s stoic silence on this subject is worrisome and I hope he would not tell us after an uneventful Africa Cup of Nations that the list wasn’t his.

Interestingly, Keshi has the chance to redeem his image in Faro, Portugal, where the final 23-man list would be made. He should drop any player he doesn’t need. The final cut should be Keshi’s so that we know who to blame, if things go awry – God forbid – in South Africa..

Ade can you see that your seed has begin to germinate. You wanted Siasia to condescend to this undisciplined boys and you used your column to support their misbehavior I am sure Mikel will soon follow suit. Now having danced to your tune, they are dancing towards destruction. What a misleading elder you are.

Dapsy

As usual a mix of intelligently concorted rubbish of a write up. I remember you sang Osaze praises to high heavens when he became rude and insolent to Siasia. The baby you nursed has matured to spray feaces on the faces of everybody who is somebody in NFF. Its an understatement that Ade is a misleading elder, he is the epitome of an irresponsible elder that fails to call to order an erring child at the appropriate time.